An improved technique of finding the coefficient of rolling friction by inclined plane method

Abstract

Abstract During the design process the mechanical engineer faces a challenge: the choice of the tribological parameters. Even most influential technical references offer ranges for the frictional characteristics. An emblematic example is the coefficient of rolling friction (CRF). The handiest solution in establishing the correct value of the CRF for a certain contact is to find it experimentally. One of the methods is the inclined plane manner. The weak point of the method consists in the particularly small values of the slope required to evidence the effect of rolling friction. The present work shows a technique for finding the CRF. The principle of the method consists in considering both the slope of the inclined plane and the torque of rolling friction as unknowns. The two parameters can be established by experimental finding of the acceleration of an axi-symmetric body, both for ascending and descending motions.